IDAHO TEACHERS REPRIMANDED FOR ‘ALL LIVES MATTER,’ PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE COMMENTS, WILL FACE PENALTIES

Boise, Idaho — Two Boise high school teachers will face penalties on their teaching certificates after they made “inappropriate” comments to students, one who wore a Black Lives Matter T-shirt and another who remained seated during the Pledge of Allegiance, according to disciplinary reports obtained by the Idaho Statesman.

The Professional Standards Commission, an Idaho State Board of Education committee that regulates teacher certification, voted to reprimand Adrien Coronado, a former teacher at Timberline High School, and Robby Hindberg, a former teacher at Borah High School, Idaho EdNews first reported.

Coronado told a student wearing a “Black

Lives Matter” T-shirt that “all lives matter” and led a class discussion about the shirt, prompting the student to leave the classroom, according to Coronado’s disciplinary report. Hindberg snapped a student’s face mask after commenting that she would likely stand for the Pledge of Allegiance if it was Mexico’s, according to a separate report.

The commission charged both teachers with violating a provision of the state’s educator code of ethics on maintaining professional relationships with students. The teachers are required to take courses on “boundaries” and “cultural responsiveness,” or risk having their teacher certifications suspended.

Both teachers denied breaking ethical rules but acknowledged there was sufficient evidence to support the commission’s decision.

Neither teacher remains employed by the Boise School District, Dan Hollar, a spokesman for the district told The Idaho Statesman. Hollar declined to comment further, citing a public records law exempting the release of personnel information.